Making Waves Read online

  ‘I didn’t know we had a secret diving station,’ said EJ.

  ‘Well it wouldn’t be very secret if you did,’ said A1, smiling. ‘Now, we must keep moving. Your wetsuit is waiting for you in the change rooms. Please change now while I get your equipment ready.’

  EJ headed off to the change cubicles at the end of the Operations Room. Inside the middle cubicle, hanging up on a hook, was a yellow one-piece swimsuit and black and purple wetsuit with the SHINE logo across the front. On the floor was a pair of rubber diving shoes. EJ quickly changed out of her uniform into the swimsuit and picked up the thick, spongy rubber wetsuit. It was tricky to put on: EJ started by putting one foot into the leg and gradually rolled the wetsuit up. It was a bit like putting on tights in winter. Eventually, after quite a bit of yanking and stretching, EJ managed to get the wetsuit on. She pulled the cord at the back to bring up the zip, slipped on her dive shoes and she was ready. She folded her uniform and left it in the paper bag marked ‘ SHINE home delivery’. Her clothes would be washed and returned to her mum. SHINE knew how to look after the details. EJ walked, rather awkwardly, out of the change cubicle and back to the briefing table where A1 was standing.

  ‘It looks like a good fit, EJ,’ said A1. ‘And have you noticed anything about your dive shoes?’

  EJ looked down at her shoes. They looked pretty normal to her. She looked back up at A1, a little confused.

  ‘You may recall our SHINE -issue mission boots?’

  EJ certainly did. The SHINE mission boots looked like normal hiking boots but when you clicked the heels they could change into ice-skates, jumping coils, even a water scooter. The only problem was that they were a little unreliable: you never knew what would come out first.

  ‘The old mission boots had a few development issues,’ said A1, once again seeming to read EJ’s mind, ‘so we have streamlined things a bit. These dive shoes only do two things, dive shoes and...’

  EJ had clicked her shoes and flippers appeared.

  ‘Flippers!’ she cried.

  ‘Exactly,’ said A1 with a smile. ‘Now, let’s continue. Here is a waterproof case for your SHINE phone so you can still use all the apps underwater. You can clip it to your wetsuit and here are your mission charms. I assume you are wearing your bracelet.’

  EJ was. All SHINE agents were issued with a bracelet that could carry a large number of charms. These, however, were no ordinary charms, they were actually CHARMs, Clever Hidden Accessories with Release Mechanism and they used a technology invented by SHINE scientists that shrunk equipment and gadgets to the size of a charm. The item could be returned to its original shape and size and be ready for use with a simple twist. It was ingenious; an agent could be fully equipped for a mission, all on her wrist, and no one would ever know. EJ did wonder how her charm bracelet would work underwater though.

  ‘All SHINE charms are completely waterproof and tested to work at even a thousand metres depth,’ said A1.

  How does she do that? thought EJ.

  ‘I just do. I think you will like these charms,’ continued A1. ‘You saw one of them at a recent training camp.’

  Please let it be the dolphin charm, please let it be the dolphin charm, chanted EJ to herself.

  ‘The first one,’ began A1, ‘is the dolphin charm.’

  EJ accidentally let out a little shriek of excitement.

  ‘EJ12, is everything alright?’ asked A1, turning to face EJ and looking concerned.

  ‘Yes. I’m sorry,’ said EJ, her face reddening. ‘Go on, A1.’

  ‘Thank you, EJ12. This is the dolphin-trainer charm that Agent IQ400 showed you. It allows agents to work with dolphins by communicating with basic commands. We have been secretly training a small pod of bottlenose dolphins near our diving station.’

  ‘Training them to do what, A1?’ asked EJ.

  ‘To search,’ replied A1. ‘Dolphins have an in-built sonar that allows them to explore their surroundings. The dolphins send out noises and the noises hit things in the water and then bounce back to the dolphins, allowing them to understand what those objects are. It is a very sophisticated system, much cleverer than anything we have been able to invent. Most importantly, they can recognise new things, things that have been introduced into the sea. For dolphins this ability helps keep them safe. For us it means we can find things that people put into the sea. Things that perhaps shouldn’t be there.’

  ‘That is so clever,’ cried EJ.

  ‘Yes,’ agreed A1, ‘and by working with the dolphins, by rewarding them with their favourite fish, we have been able to train them to show us how to find those things.’

  ‘Like Adriana’s A-Sub?’ said EJ.

  ‘Let’s hope so,’ replied A1. ‘Adriana doesn’t know we are using dolphins so she may not have designed the A-Sub to avoid detection by them. Agent C2C will brief you on how to use the charm at the dive station. The next two charms are similar to the penguin charm you already have.’ A1 held out two charms, one in the shape of a sea turtle, the other a butterfly fish. ‘These charms are animal feeding charms. The turtle charm will release a bag of sponges, sea-turtles’ favourite food, and the butterfly fish charm releases a universal fish food.’ Finally, A1 gave EJ a charm that looked a little like a plastic bottle.

  ‘A water bottle?’ asked EJ.

  ‘In a way,’ replied A1. ‘This is a test flask, the first in a new range of charms IQ400 has been developing. As you know, SHINE already has a large range of spy charms, tools and gadgets that help our agents on missions, but now we also have sci charms that can help us with research and testing.’

  ‘Spy charms and sci charms, I like that,’ said EJ.

  ‘I rather thought you might, I do too,’ said A1, smiling. ‘I am very excited about these charms, EJ. They will allow our agents to help carry out important scientific and environmental research all over the world. Let me show you how this one works.’

  A1 twisted the charm and waited. A small clear plastic bottle with a thin neck and wide base appeared.

  ‘Now, this may look like an ordinary flask but it isn’t, thanks to microchip and transmitter technology embedded in the plastic. It is a smart flask. The agent collects a sample—some coral, sand or seawater perhaps—and the flask will test the sample and send the results directly to the SHINE laboratory where they can analyse it and respond as necessary. Remember, EJ, whatever Adriana is up to, she is changing the balance of the water and we believe this imbalance will be stronger the closer you get to her and her activities. We need you to take water samples while you are up there. You can carry out the test by scooping up water yourself but the flask also fits perfectly into the robotic arm fitted on SHINE mobile 3’

  ‘ SHINE mobile 3?’ asked EJ. She remembered SHINE mobile 3 from her Antarctic mission. It was a cross between a jet-ski that went on water and a snowmobile that travelled on ice. It was like riding a very fast scooter and it was very fun. But SHINE mobile 3 can’t go under the water, can it? EJ thought.

  ‘Yes, EJ,’ said A1, ‘The new and improved SHINE mobile 3 is now fully submersible. It will be your own personal submarine, complete with robotic tools for underwater work.’

  ‘Wow,’ gasped EJ, ‘that is so cool!’

  ‘And it is waiting for you on board SHINE force 10 along with agent LP30, who will fly you to your drop point. The reef is in deep trouble, EJ12. We have to find Adriana and stop her secret operation before it is too late.’

  EJ put on her charms, clipped her phone to her suit and took a deep breath as she headed for the door. She was starting to feel a little out of her depth.

  ‘Welcome aboard SHINE force 10, EJ12,’ said LP30, turning away from the plane’s controls to smile at EJ as she came aboard. ‘I like the wetsuit. I’ll get us up in the air and then brief you on the new features of SHINE mobile 3. But now, strap yourself in and prepare for take-off.’

  The engines of SHINE force 10 surged in power and its wheels began to roll. It quickly picked up speed as the plane powered down the
runway and then lifted into the air. In no time they were up high in the sky. LP30’s voice came over the speakers.

  ‘Okay, EJ, we are now cruising comfortably but don’t get too comfortable. SHINE force 10 has been upgraded for super-sonic capacity, it will be a short flight. We need to review your pre-mission checklist. Correct gear?’

  ‘Check, wetsuit on. Dive shoes on.’

  ‘Mission charms attached?’

  EJ double-checked her bracelet. ‘Check.’

  ‘Confirm mission objectives.’

  ‘Locate Adriana and A-Sub and prevent coral harvest.’

  ‘That’s affirmative, EJ12,’ replied LP30. ‘We are already flying over the water. If you look out on your right side you will be able to see the beginning of the reef.’

  EJ looked out the window. As on the photomap, she could see the way the coral reef stretched up along the coast like a ragged shadow under the water. The Great Barrier Reef was not one reef but lots of reefs forming a long line. As the jet began to descend, EJ could see that the sea wasn’t just one uniform blue but lots of different blues. There was the dark, dark blue of the deep ocean, then the light blue of the shallower areas dotted with the white tips of the waves. From the plane, the reefs looked almost black. Then EJ saw something she couldn’t believe: a large heart in the middle of the ocean. She quickly realised it was a patch of reef shaped like a big love heart.

  ‘Is that real?’ cried EJ to LP30.

  ‘The heart?’ said LP30 without turning around. ‘It’s real.’

  ‘Is it natural or man-made?’

  ‘Completely natural. Isn’t it amazing?’

  It was indeed and as EJ looked out over the reef, she kept wondering why anyone would want to destroy it. But Adriana was doing just that and she was down there somewhere.

  ‘We are approaching the drop-off point, EJ,’ shouted LP30. ‘You need to get into SHINE mobile 3 and prepare for air-launch.’

  ‘Air-launch,’ repeated EJ. ‘It can fly as well?’

  ‘Glide, actually,’ answered LP30. ‘There is a new hang-gliding feature. SHINE mobile 3 is stored at the back of the jet, just behind the door. Please take your position in SHINE mobile 3 and give me the thumbs up when you’re ready to go.’

  EJ unstrapped her belt, got out of her seat and opened the door at the back of the cabin. It led to a small area that was like the boot of the airplane. In the middle was a purple vehicle that looked like a cross between a jet-ski and a mini submarine. It was the new SHINE mobile 3.

  EJ put on the helmet and life jacket that was hanging over the handlebars, climbed on to the seat and strapped on her belt. She locked her phone into the socket on the jet-ski dashboard and gave LP30, who was looking back from the cockpit, the thumbs up.

  ‘Okay, EJ, I am about to open the back of the jet. When I do, release the break and press the G-button on your dashboard to activate the glider. Once out of the plane you can steer down to the sea. As you approach the water, press the J-button and SHINE mobile 3 will convert to jet-ski mode and you can ride to the diving station to meet Agent C2C. Your phone will automatically activate the satellite navigation system—the location of the diving station is already uploaded to your phone. Ready to go?’

  ‘Check,’ said EJ12. She was excited, she had parachuted out of planes before and loved it, but this should be even better.

  ‘Okay, doors opening, you are ready for drop. Good luck, EJ12!’

  The back door of the jet slid open and a rush of cold air filled the plane. EJ released the brake and pressed the G-button. Two sail-like wings shot out from each side of the vehicle and it started to move. As it rolled out of the plane, EJ felt the SHINE mobile 3 drop but, before she had time to worry that it was going to keep dropping, its wings caught the wind and EJ felt the vehicle pick up again. EJ turned the handlebars and, pointing the nose slightly downwards, she began to glide down towards the ocean. It felt so light, as if she was flying in a paper airplane. She circled, spiralling her way down, and the water came closer and closer. EJ hit the J-button and her glider converted to jet-ski mode. Perfect timing.

  And a perfect landing.

  EJ looked around. There was nothing but water. When she looked to the horizon, there was just one long, wide expanse of sea with sunlight dancing on the sea’s surface, making it sparkle. EJ looked down. From the plane, the water had looked deep blue but up close, it was more blue-green, aqua even. That makes sense, thought EJ. Aqua, water, I suppose that’s why that colour is called that. EJ liked it when words worked that way. What she didn’t like however, was that she couldn’t see the bottom of the ocean. The sea must be deep, very deep.

  Okay, she thought to herself. I am not even going to think about what’s underneath me. I need to get to the diving station.

  EJ turned on the sat nav. The station was about five nautical miles away. I’d better get going, she thought as she started the engine and slowly pulled back on the accelerator. There was a whirr as the electric motor kicked in. With only a small jolt, EJ was away, speeding across the water.

  From the air, the water might have looked smooth but there were small waves everywhere. EJ gripped the handlebars as the jet-ski was thrown up against the waves and then crashed down again. THWACK, THUMP, wave after wave after wave. It was hard work but fun at the same time.

  EJ felt the wind and salt water whip around her face. She checked the sat nav. She should be approaching the diving station but EJ couldn’t see anything but water. She rode along for a little further and her sat nav began to beep.

  I must be close, thought EJ as she slowed the jet-ski and came to a stop. But there’s nothing here, only a whole lot of seaweed.

  The jet-ski floated a bit further along, the sat nav beeped even more loudly and EJ felt a jolt as the jet-ski seemed to bump into something. But what? What have I hit? she wondered. There’s only seaweed and seaweed isn’t hard.

  Beeeeep!

  Maybe the sat nav is broken, EJ thought. It was then that she saw another text screen was flashing on the dashboard of her jet-ski. She read the message.

  Lift? Out here? wondered EJ but she checked the dashboard and saw there was an UP and a DOWN button. She pressed the UP one. There was a gushing noise and then bubbles began to appear. The seaweed floating on the surface began to move as it was pushed up into the air. EJ watched in disbelief as slowly an inflatable dive pontoon, complete with a small cabin covered with seaweed, rose up from the water.

  Well, thought EJ, impressed, A1 did say it was secret.

  EJ could also see another SHINE mobile tied to a pole at the far end of the pontoon. It had been pulled up with the pontoon. That must be C2C’s jet-ski, thought EJ. But where is C2C?

  Just as EJ was about to climb onto the pontoon, there was a loud splash behind her. She jumped up in her seat and spun around to look. There was nothing there. EJ turned back to the pontoon.

  Then there was another splash. EJ turned around, quicker this time, but again she saw nothing. She was beginning to feel just a little spooked.

  Seconds later there was a third splash. EJ looked back again and this time, she thought she saw something black moving up and down in the water. She kept looking and, yes, there was something and whatever it was, it was coming closer. EJ froze for a moment, holding the handlebars of the jet-ski tight, her knuckles whitening. She wasn’t even in the water yet and she was scared.

  There it was again, another splash and then a large blowing sound, as if something, or someone, was pushing out air.

  Something was. Right next to EJ’s jet-ski, a head popped up, a head wearing goggles and a yellow snorkel—with a SHINE logo on the side.

  ‘EJ12, it’s good to see you again. It’s me, Agent C2C.’

  EJ hoped she didn’t look as embarrassed as she felt.

  ‘Well, I see you found the SHINE dive station,’ said C2C, who had now climbed up on to the pontoon and removed her dive tanks, goggles and snorkel. ‘A small, water-powered lift system allows us to keep the pontoon hidd
en in the water. It would stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the ocean so we keep it submerged whenever possible. We are not far from the reef and I was just doing a quick check while I waited for you but there’s no sign of any unusual activity here. What is the latest intelligence from HQ?

  EJ got off her jet ski and joined C2C on the pontoon.

  ‘We know Adriana is working in something she is calling an A-Sub and that she has completed her first harvest of black coral somewhere not too far from here,’ said EJ. ‘But our radar tracking systems can’t seem to find any trace of her.’

  ‘We’ll find her,’ replied C2C, ‘but first we need to get you marine-mission-ready. Your scuba gear is in the dive cabin. Put it on and we can start.’

  ‘Start what?’ asked EJ slightly nervously.

  ‘Your first ocean dive,’ said C2C. ‘What a treat awaits you!’

  EJ didn’t see it quite that way. ‘I thought I’d just use my SHINE mobile,’ she replied.

  ‘Most of the time you can,’ agreed C2C, ‘but there may be times when you need to dive. This exercise will prepare you for that and you must be feeling hot in that wetsuit. A swim will cool you off.’

  EJ had to agree she did felt pretty uncomfortable. The rubber suit felt hot and sticky. She opened the cabin door and found the gear. Remembering her training, she strapped on her oxygen tank and checked the gauges. She took her goggles and attached her snorkel before clicking her dive shoes together to turn them into flippers. She had all her gear and she was ready. She just didn’t feel ready.

  ‘Come on, take the plunge,’ cried C2C, who was already back in the water. ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ said EJ, thinking there might actually be plenty to be afraid of. ‘How deep is it here?’

  ‘Not so deep at all,’ replied C2C. ‘And once we are on the reef it will be less deep, it is like a platform in the water.’